Machine for printing selected portions of a printing form



Aug. 29, 1961 w. RlTZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 1961 w. RlTZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM Filed Feb. 18, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 1961 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM Filed Feb. 18, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 17 7| a7 30 I 3a A L [III/6270K.

Aug. 29, 1961 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM Filed Feb. 18, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 1961 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM Filed Feb. 18, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 jm emola' W s W 1951 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM I Filed Feb. 18, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 19$1 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM Filed Feb. 18, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 9, 1961 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM Filed Feb. 18, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 1961 w. RITZERFELD ET AL 2,997,949

MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS 0F A PRINTING FORM Filed Feb. 18, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 United States Patent 2,997,949 I MACHINE FOR PRINTING SELECTED PORTIONS OF A PRINTING FORM Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Sclr'orlemer Allee 14, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany, and Gerhard 'Ritzerfeld, Franzensbader Str. 21, Berlin-Grnnewald, Germany Filed Feb. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 794,146 Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 19, 1958 8 Claims. (Cl. 101-132.5)

The present invention relates to a machine for printing selected portions of a printing form, and more particularly to a duplicating machine of the type in which sections of the printing form extending in axial direction of the duplicating roller are selectively printed on moistened copy sheets.

Other duplicating machines are known which produce on copy sheets imprints of circumferentially or axially extending portions of the printing form. Consequently, the known printing machines of this type are capable of printing either lines of the printing form, or columns of the same, while printing of selected lines of selected columns has not been possible with apparatus of the prior art It is one object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage of the prior art constructions, and to provide a printing machine capable of producing prints of selected lines of selected columns of a printing for-m.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a printing machine including a printing roller and a single counter pressure roller, pressure members on one of said rollers which are shiftable in axial direction to select circurnterentially extending portions of the printing form for printing on a copy sheet, and finally assume an abutting position for printing the entire printing form.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a duplicating machine of this type, moistening means which are capable of moistening only those portions of the copy sheets on which imprints of selected circumferential portions of the printing form are intended.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in a printing or duplicating machine which comprises printing roller means; and counter pressure roller means cooperating with the printing roller means. One of the roller means includes a plurality of pressure members movable in axial direction of the roller means to a plurality of axially spaced positions and an abutting position so that the pressure members define difierently interrupted printing lines or a continuous printing line the other roller means. At least a part, or parts of one of the roller means is movable to and from a printing position, and preferably means are provided for moving the respective roller means in a selected sequence to and from the printing position thereof. The printing roller means includes means for holding a printing form thereon so that only portions of the printing form which are 10- V cated on the pressure members when passing through the printing line, produce imprints on the copy sheets.

Since the axial position of the pressure members, and the moments at which one of the roller means assumes its printing position, can be selected, selected line and column portions on the printing formcan be printed on copy sheets. The arrangement has the particular advantage that portions of the printing form can be selectively included, or excluded, from the printing operation, So that the undesired covering of the printing form by cover sheets can be avoided.

The pressure members according to the present invention have in abutting position a total axial width which corresponds to the axial width of the printing form so that the entire printing form produces an imprint.

. In one embodiment of the present invention the counter 2,997,949 Patented Aug. 29, 1961 ice pressure roller is moved toand from a printing position, and includes the pressure members in the form of two rollers which cooperate with the printing roller. In another embodiment of the present invention, the pressure members are curved pressure sheets mounted on the printing roller for movement in axial direction, and being controlled by manually operated shifting means. By shifting the pressure sheet members, or the pressure rollers, columns of the printing form can be selected for printing, while other columns can be excluded from printing by arranging a gap between two pressure members in the region of the undesired columns.

The selective printing of lines can be obtained by different operations. For example, the counter pressure roller means can be moved toward the printing roller, or printing members on the printing roller can be moved to an advanced position when printing of lines of the printing form located on such printing members is desired.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the printing form. is held by holding means which are movable in axial direction of the printing roller, so that selected columns of the printing forms can be placed opposite the gap between two pressure members. It is also possible to shift the pressure members in axial direction to obtain the same result.

In order to avoid that undesired parts of the printing form, which are not under pressure while passing through the printing line, produce smudges on the copy sheets, it is preferred to moisten only those parts of the copy sheets which are under pressure of the pressure members when passing through the printing line.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the axially shiftable pressure members are respectively connected to axially shiftable moistening members which moisten only those portions of the copy sheet winch are later on subjected to the pressure of the axially shifted pressure members when passing through the printing line.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure members are parts of the counter pressure roller means, and are connected to corresponding moistening roller means.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes means for automatically shifting the pressure members in axial direction during each revolution of the printing roller. In this manner, different columns of the printing formare printed during each revolution.

The novel ieatures which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be I best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the detail taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the position of the printing form in relation to pressure members;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrating a pressure member with a cutout;

FIG. 6 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side View of a further embodiment of the present invention; 7

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 in FIG. 8; 3

for moving the counter prmsure roller means 39 between a retracted position, and an advanced printing position defining the printing line with the duplicating roller means 1.

Switch means are provided for energizing the electromagnetic means 45 whenever desired during each revolution of the duplicating roller means 1. A stationary member 65 has contacts 66 arranged in a first circle, and contacts 69 arranged in a second circle of smaller diameter. A contact arm 67 has two movable contacts 68 and 70 which respectively cooperate with contacts 66 and 69 during rotation of the duplicating roller means 1. Slide rings 68a and 70a are respectively connected to contacts 68 and 70, and cooperate with slide contacts 68b and 70b.

Slide contact 68b and contact 66 are connected into the circuit of the electro-magnetic means 45. Contacts 66 are selected by operation of a keyboard, not shown. When one or several contacts 66 are connected into the circuit of the electro-magnetic means 45, electro-magnetic means 45 will be energized to operate lever '41 and counter pressure roller 39 whenever contact 68 passes over the respective selected contacts 66 during rotation of arm 67 with shaft 4 and duplicating roller means 1. The construction of the keyboard, and the circuit of the electro-magnetic means 45 are not objects of the present invention. It will be understood that this arrangement serves the same purpose as the control cam means in the arrangement of FIG. 1, and effects movement of the counter pressure roller to an operative printing position in selected angular positions of the duplicating roller 1 in which desired lines of the printing form will pass through the printing line between duplicating roller means 1 and counter pressure roller means 39. Contacts 69 and 70 serve a different purpose which will be explained hereinafter.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the counter pressure roller means 39 includes a pair of tubular sleeves 46, 47 on which pressure roller members 39a and 39b are, respectively, mounted. Members 46 and 47 have grooves 46a and 47a at the ends thereof which are engaged by the fork-shaped end portions of a pair of levers 48 and 52. The connection permits rotation of sleeves 46 and 47 together with pressure roller members 39a and 39b, while arms 48 do not turn. A spindle 50 is turnably mounted in the frame of the machine, and is provided with a thread groove 50a engaged by a pin 50b of an annular nut means 49 which is integral with arm 48. Consequently, turning of spindle 50 by a manually operated knob, not shown, will effect axial movement of member 48, 49 which will displace pressure roller member 39a in axial direction.

Arm 52 is integral with a member 53 which is slidable along a rod 54 extending parallel to the axis of the shafts 4 and 40. A rack bar 55 is fixedly secured to member 53 and is connected by a chain schematically indicated at'56, to a chain wheel 57 which is connected to a spring motor 58 which tends to move rack bar 55 in direction of the arrow K by turning chain Wheel 57 A stop pawl 59 engages rack bar 55 and prevents movement of the same under the action of spring 58. Pawl 59 and a ratchet pawl 64 are mounted on a pin 51 which is stationary. When a manually operated member 63 is pushed in direction of the arrow in FIG. 6, a turnable member 62'Wlll act through a bar 61 to eifect release of the stop pawl 59, and shifting of the rack bar through one step after which it is held by pawl 60. Chain 56 forms a loop over another chain wheel, not shown, and is secured to rack bar 55 at point 55a. Whenever the knob 64 is turned against the action of spring 56, the chain 56 will move in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow K, and return rack bar 55 and thereby pressureroller member39b to its initial position.

Electro-magnetic means 71 is connected into the circuit of contacts 69 and 70, and is energized in predetermined.

and selected angularly positions of the duplicating roller means 1 and arm 67. The armature 71a of electromagnetic means 71 is articulated to stop pawl 59, so that rack bar 55 is released for step-wise movement when electromagnetic means 71 is energized. Each time the rack bar 55 is released by operation of the electro-magnetic means 71, or by operation of the push bar 63, pressure roller member 39b moves one step to the left, as viewed in FIG. 7, and through a distance L to assume the position indicated by dash and dot lines in FIG. 7.

The apparatus operates in the following manner:

When electromagnetic means 45 is controlled by contacts 66 to hold the pressure roller members 39a and 39b of the counter pressure roller means 39 in printing position while the entire printing form 3 moves through the printing line, only portions 33 and 34 of the printing form will be effective to produce imprints on copy sheets, since printing pressure is produced only between the peripheral surface of duplicating roller means 1, and the peripheral surfaces of pressure roller members 39a and 39b. In the space intermediate pressure rollers 39a and 3%, no printing pressure can be exerted so that the respective part of the printing form 3 does not produce an imprint on the copy sheet. The efiective portions 33 and 34 are hatched in FIG. 7 for the sake of clarity. It is evident that by manipulation of the shifting means 50, 49, the axial extension of the part 33 of the printing form can be determined. In a similar manner, the axial width of the selected portion 34 of the printing form can be determined before the printing operation by operation of the manually operated shifting means 59, 60, or 64. However, contacts 69 can be selectively connected into the circuit of the electro-magnetic means 71 so that every time contact 70 passes a selected contact 69, electro-magnetic means 71 is energized, turns pawl 59, and effects shifting of the rack bar 55, and of pressure roller member 39b one step to the left. In this manner, fewer columns 34 are printed from the leading part of the printing form, than of the trailing part of the printing form, since pressure roller member 3%, moving toward pressure roller member 39a, will reduce the space between the two pressure roller members, and thereby narrow the unprinted part of the printing form.

In the same manner, contacts 66 can be selected in a known manner to effect repeated movements of the counter pressure roller members 39a and 39b to printing position under control of electro-magnetic means 45. In this event, selected lines of the column portions 3-3 and 34 of the printing form 3 will be printed as indicated by the cross hatched sections 35 and 36 in FIG. 4.

It will be understood that electro-magnetic means 45 and the associated switch means and circuit means c0nstitu-te operating and control means for moving the counter pressure roller means 39 to and from a printing position in the same manner as the cam means 8 to 12 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Electro-magnetic means 71, and the associated switch means and circuit, constitute control means for the stepping mechanism 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 which is part of the shifting means for shifting the pressure roller member 39b.

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of the embodiment described with reference to FIGURES 6 and 7. The duplicating roller means 1 carries a printing form 3, and cooperates with a counter pressure roller means 39 comprising two counter pressure roller members 39a and 39b shiftable in axial direction on a shaft 40, as described with reference to FIGURES 6 and 7. A manually operated spindle 50 is mounted in the frame of the machine, and moves a nut means 49 in axial direction. The automatic shifting means for pressure roller member 39b include the stepping mechanism 55, 56, 57, 58, 59

and 60. However, the arms 48 and 52 are replaced by longer arms 72 and 73 which are respectively secured to nut means 49 and to the shiftable member 53. The ends of arms 72 and 73 are fork-shaped, and engage corresponding grooves in the sleeves 46 and 47 associated with the counter pressure roller miemberst39a and 39b.

The moistening means of the embodiment of FIGURES 8' and '9 are improved, and include a container 76 with a moistening liquid as used for duplicating purposes, a transfer roller 75 partly immersed into the liquid in container 76, and turning to transfer the raised liquid to the moistening roller means 74 which includes two moistening roller members 74a and 74b which are mounted on a shaft 91 turnable and shiftable in axial direction. Shaft 91 has end portions mounted in slots 91a of the side walls 100 of the machine and is urged by spring means 91b into engagement with transporting roller 77 and transfer rolle r 75. Arms 72, 73 are formed with cutouts 72a and 73a which engage corresponding grooves in members 172 and 173 which form extensions of moistening rollers 74a and 74b, permitting rotation of the moistening rollers.

Pressure roller 39a has the same axial extension as moistenihg roller 74a, and pressure roller 3% has the same axial extension as moistening roller 74b. Arms 72 and 73 shift the moistening rollers the same axial distance as the pressure roller members. The liquid will be transferred from the container 76 through roller 75 to the surface of the moistening rollers 74a and 74b, and the moistening rollers will only wet corresponding surface portions of the transfer and transporting roller 77.

The wet surface portions of roller 77 moisten corresponding portions of the copy sheet, which are fed to the interrupted printing line between the peripheral surfaces of pressure roller members 39a and 39b and the printing form 3 when the counter pressure roller means are moved by electromagnetic means 45 to printing position. It is evident that only the portions of the copy sheet which were moistened by moistening rollers 74a and 74b, are subjected to the pressure of the pressure roller members 39a and 39bduring the printing operation. The dry portion of the copy sheet is not pressed against the printing form, since the pressure roller members 74a and 74b are correspondingly spaced. Since an imprint can be only produced on a moistened copy sheet, accidental undesired imprints or smudges cannot be produced by the printing form in the center portion of the copy sheets.

As explained above, rollers 74a and 39a are simultaneously shifted by operation of spindle 50. Rollers 39b and 74b are simultaneously shifted by operation of member 53 which is slidable on a shaft 150 forming an extension of spindle 50. The stepping mechanism can be electro-magnetically operated, as described with reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, but in the modified embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 10, a mechanical control means is illustrated. An adjustable cam means 78 is mounted on the shaft 4, and can be secured by arresting pins 78a to the duplicating roller means for rotation therewith. A plurality of recesses 78b is arranged in a circle on duplicating roller means 1, so that the position of the dwell of control earns 78 can be selected. During rotation of the duplicating roller 1, cam 78 engages a roller 79 on an angular lever 80 and rocks the same. Lover 80 cooperates with another lever 61 which is turned by lever 80 to engage pawl 60 so as to effect a step-wise movement of rack bar 55 together with members 741; and 39b. As best seen in FIG. 9 pawl 60 engages a shoulder on pawl 59, so that turning movement of pawl 60 will also effect turning movement of pawl 59 for releasing ra'ck bar 55 for a single step movement. A manually operated lever 82 is mounted on the frame of the machine and can be operated to shift the fulcrum pin 80a of lever 80 to a position in which lever 80 is inoperative so that no automatic shifting of rollers 74b and 391) takes place. FIG.9 also illustrated a keyboard 870! on which keys 87b are provided. Suitable control means 87c connect the keys with contacts and switches in the circuit which connectsswitch means '66, 68 with the electromagnetic means 45 so that the operation of keys 87b, lines of the printing form 3 can be selected .for printing during a single revolution of the printing roller :1.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 10v and '11 has a counter pressure roller means 39 including two pressure roller members 39a and 3% which are mounted on a shaft turnable and shiftable in axial direction. Sleeves 46 and 47 are again engaged by arms 48 and 52, if the construction of FIGURES 6 and 7 is used for shifting the counter pressure rollers 39a and 39b, orrare provided with extended arms 72 and 73, if the construction of FIGURES 8 and 9 is provided in which moistening rollers 74a, 74b are shifted simultaneously with the counter pressure roller members 39a and 3%. Control and shifting means as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, or as illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 may be provided.

In the embodiments of FIGURES 6 to 9, the selective printing of lines of the printing form is obtained by-shift ing the counter pressure roller means 39 to printing position whenever a desired line of the printing form passes through the printing line.

In contrast thereto, the counter pressure roller means of the embodiment of FIGURES l0 and 11 is not necessarily shifted to a printing position. The printing roller means In of the embodiment of FIGURES 10 and 11 includes a plurality of elongated printing members '83 which are mounted in the body of the printing roller means for movement in radial direction, as best seen in FIGURE ll. Each printing member 83 is provided with a pair of pins 83a which are connected by springs84 to pins 83b on the body of the printing roller means 1. Consequently, the printing members 83 tend to assume a retracted position in which the pressure faces 830011 the outside thereof form a continuous circular surface on the printing roller means In. A rod 85 is shifta bly mounted in each printing member 83, and carries rollers 86 at the ends. A catch means 85a on printing member 83 cooperates with two recesses 85b in rod 85, so that rod 85 can be arrested to axially shifted positions. Inone of the positions, rod 85 and-rollers 86 are inoperative. In the other operative position, at least one roller 86 is located in the same plane as a stationary cam means 88, so that during rotation of the printing roller means 1a, cam follower roller 86 engages the dwell 89 of cam means 88 whereby the respective printing member 83 is outwardly shifted into an operative printing position as illustrated at 183 in FIG. 10. The cam track of cam means 88, 89 is so shaped that each selected printing member is moved to printing position shortly before passing through the printing line, and is released for return by springs 84 directly after passing through the printing line. The selection of printing members for printing is effected by a control means 87 including keys 87b which are associated with different printing members and respectively associated lines of the printing form 3.- Bowden cable means 870 respectively connect the keys with shifting members 87d which are respectively located opposite rods 85 of the printing members 83. Consequently, each rod 85 can be shifted to operative position by actuation of the respective associated key 87b. Every rod 85 in operative position has its cam follower rollers 86 located in the plane of cam means 88, so that the respective printing members 83 are shifted to printing positions during rotation of the printing roller means 1a. In this manner, selected lines, or groups of lines of the printing form 3 are printed when the printing member in printing positions passes through the printing line, while the adjacent portions of the printing form are not pressed against their counter pressure roller means 39a and 39b during passage through the printing line. By operation of the printing members, line portion? are selected, and since by operation of the counter pressure-roller members 39a and 39b, columns of the printing fornrare .selected for printing, selected lines of selected columns can be printed by the apparatus.

A clearing member 90 can be moved'to an Operative Josition in which it engages rods 85 in operative posiions for shifting the same back to inoperative positions. Clearing member 90, of course, is so positioned that each 70d 85 and the associated printing member 83, is returned to inoperative position after the respective printing member has passed through the printing line.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of printing machines difierin'g from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a rotary duplicator including pressure members shiftable in axial direction of the duplicating roller and counter pressure roller to select desired circum ferentially extending portions of the printing form for selective printing, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing machine, in combination, printing roller means; and counter pressure roller means cooperating with said printing roller means, said printing roller means including a plurality of printing members having faces together forming the peripheral surface of said one printing roller means, each of said printing members being selectively movable to a printing position cooperating with said counter pressure roller means; means for selectively moving said printing members to said printing positions during each revolution of said printing roller means, said counter pressure roller means including a plurality of roller members movable in axial direction of said counter pressure roller means between an abutting position and a plurality of spaced positions so that in said spaced positions of said roller members axially spaced circumferentially extending portions of the printing form, and in said abutting position the entire printing form are located in the regions of said peripheral surfaces of said roller members and produce imprints on copy sheets during rotation of said roller means in said printing position.

2. -In a printing machine, in combination, a printing roller means; holding means on said printing roller means for holding a printing form on the peripheral surface of the same; said holding means being mounted on said printing roller means for movement in axial direction; means for shifting said holding means in axial direction so that said printing form can be positioned on said printing roller means in a plurality of axially displaced positions; a counter pressure roller means cooperating with said printing roller means, a part or parts of one of said roller means being movable to and from a printing position in which at least part of its peripheral surface is located in close proximity to the peripheral surface of the respective other roller means, said printing roller means including a plurality of pressure members having peripheral surfaces with a total axial extension adapted to be at least equal to the axial extension of the printing form, and elongate support means extending in axial direction of said printing roller means and supporting said pressure members for movement in said axial direction between an abutting position and a plurality of spaced positions, said pressure members being curved and adapted to be located underneath circumferentially extending portions of the printing form and to support in said abutting position the printing form along the entire axial extension thereof; means for supplying copy sheets to the bight be tween said roller means; and means for moving said part orparts of said movable roller means to and from said printing position so that only portions of the copy sheet extending over said surfaces of said members are printed during rotation of said roller means.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pressure members have cutouts.

4. In a printing machine, in combination, a printing roller means; holding means on said printing roller means for holding a printing form on the peripheral surface of the same; a counter pressure roller means cooperating with said printing roller means, at least a part or parts of said printing roller means being movable to and from a printing position in which at least part of its peripheral surface is located in close proximity to the peripheral surface of the respective other roller means, said counter pressure roller means including a plurality of roller members having a total axial extension adaptedto be at least equal to the axial extension of the printing form, and elongate support means extending in axial direction of said printing roller means and supp rting said roller members for movement in said axial direction to a plural-' ity of spaced positions; moistening means including an elongate support extending in axial direction of said roller means, and a plurality of moistening rollers mounted on said support for movement in axial direction to a plural-. ity of spaced positions; means for supplying copy sheets to said moistening means and to the bight between said roller means; and connecting means connecting each of said moistening rollers to an associated roller member for simultaneous movement between corresponding axially spaced positions so that only those portions of the copy sheets are moistened which pass over said roller members; and control means including electro-magnetic means connected to said movable roller means and to said connecting means for moving at least said part or parts of said movable roller means to and from said printing position and other electromagnetic means for moving a connected pair of a moistening roller and a roller member between the respective positions of the same, rotary switch means operated by said printing roller means during each revolution thereof, and circuit means connecting said rotary switch means with both said electromagnetic means so that said roller member and moistening member is shifted in timed relation with the movement of said movable roller means.

5. In a duplicating machine, in combination, a duplicating roller means; holding means on said duplicating roller means movable in axial direction, and adapted to hold a master sheet on the peripheral surface of said duplicating roller means; a plurality of curved pressure sheet members located on the peripheral surface of said duplicating roller means; a plurality of holding members holding said curved pressure sheet members, respectively, and being mounted on said duplicating roller means movable in axial direction between a plurality of positions in which said curved pressure sheet members are spaced difierent distances in axial direction, said pressure sheet members being adapted to be located under diiferent portions of said master sheet in said positions of said pressure sheet members; manually operated means respectively connected to said holding members and mounted on said duplicating roller means for moving said pressure sheet members between said positions of the same; counter pressure roller means cooperating with said duplicating roller means and being movable to and from a printing position in close proximity of the surface of said duplicating roller means and pressure sheet members; means for supplying copy sheets to the bight between said duplicating roller means and pressure sheet members, and said counter pressure roller means; operating means for moving said counter pressure roller means to and from said printing position;

and control means for actuating said operating' means during each revolution. of said duplicating roller means. 6. Aduplicating machine as set forth in .claim wherein said manually operated means include a plurality of adjustable threaded means mounted on said duplicating roller and respectively connected to said holding members.

7. In a duplicating machine, .in combination, duplicating roller means including a plurality ofelongated printing members having pressure faces, each printing member being movable independently. of the other printing members to and from a projecting printing position; holding means on said duplicating roller means for holding a flexible master sheet on the peripheral surface of said duplicating roller means and extending over said pressure faces of said printing members so that printing members in said projecting printing positions raise associated portions of said master sheet located on said pressure, faces; counter pressure roller means cooperating with said duplicating roller means, and defining a printing line with printing members in said printing position, said counter pressure roller means including a shaft extending in axial direction of saidduplicating roller means, and a plurality of roller members shiftably mounted on said shaft for movement between a plurality of axially spaced positions; means for supplying copy sheets to the bight between said duplicating roller means and said roller members; first control means for shifting selected printing members to said printing position before the respective selected printing member passes through said printing line; shifting means for selectively shifting selected roller members he- 12 tween said positions of the same; and second control means for actuating said shifting means during each revolution of said duplicating roller means. w

8. In a printing machine, in combination, rotary duplieating roller means; rotary counter pressure roller means cooperating with said-duplicating roller means, one of said roller means including a plurality of pressure members movable in axial direction of said roller means between a plurality of axially spaced positions, each of said pressure members having a peripheral circular pressure surface forming a printing line with the other of said roller means during rotation of said roller means; means for shifting selected pressure members between said positions of the same; means for supplying copy sheets to the printing lines between said pressure surfaces of said pressure members and other roller means; and holding means for holding a printing form on said duplicating roller means so that only portions of said printing form passing through said print.- ing lines are printed on cor-responding portions of said copy sheets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,137,096 Ritzerfeld Nov. 15, 1938 2,237,363 Ritzerfeld et al. Apr. 8, 1941 2,589,790 Ford Mar. 18, 1952 2,707,433 Roberts May 3, 1955 2,724,330 Brown et 'al. Nov. '22, 1955 2,787,212 Delplanque Apr. 2, 1957 

